WNBA legend Lisa Leslie has voiced her opinion on the recent incident where Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas made contact with Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, stating that the league and its officials need to improve.
During an appearance on CBS Sports' "We Need To Talk," Leslie commented on the officiating during the game where Thomas shoved her fist into Clark's throat. Leslie acknowledged that officiating is a difficult job but believes the officials on the court should have seen the incident.
"In this particular situation, I thought that the last official should have been able to catch that," Leslie said. "I was actually watching this game, and I was like, 'Oh, wow — that was a bit much.'"
She expressed that it was "tough" to see the missed call and that the league needs to address inconsistencies. "I think, overall, the league has got to do better, the officials have got to do better, but also players — players have to clean it up," Leslie stated. "We used to play in a way that we protected one another. Yeah, I want to play physical, I want to play hard, but I'm not here to hurt you."
Leslie suggested that Thomas might have faced a less severe penalty if she had reacted differently after the incident, perhaps by apologizing to Clark. However, she ultimately agreed with the league's decision regarding Thomas's punishment.
"That's not what happened, so I think the league got it right, but, overall, I think that Coach Tibbetts is correct. Consistency is important. It needs to get cleaned up for all players, regardless of their accolades," Leslie concluded.
The incident occurred during a game on June 24, 2026, where the Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever 111-109. The WNBA later suspended Thomas for one game following the incident.